Pelleted Seeds Questions

[AlittleSalt]

The other day, I was looking at the few remaining tomato seed packs at a retail store when I saw this package of Jelly Bean Tomato seed that said, "Pelleted". Being that I had never looked at tomato seeds until I joined Tomatoville - I had never seen or heard of pelleted seeds.

I asked an employee working in the garden center what pelleted meant? She looked it up on her 960, and told me that it means that the tomatoes grown from pelleted seed will not be as big as usual! (Incorrect)

The seed pack was cheap and I was curious, so I bought them. It turns out that:

"Pelleting improves the shape, size, and uniformity of raw seeds for more accurate sowing by hand and precision-sowing by machine. The use of pelleted seed results in a more uniform stand, less seed actually being used, and less time spent thinning." (Cited: Too many internet sources to count)

Anyway, it's seed that looks like it was coated with yogurt and dried to about the size of a BB. Yes, very easy to see and plant. The Ferry~Morse package I bought had 8 (Eight) seeds in and cost $1.28. Compared to the Burpee Roma seeds I bought for $2.29 that has around 100 seeds. Even the $0.20 American Seed packs have around 20-25 seeds per pack.

What I am wondering is if "Pelleting" is more of a ploy to get people to pay more for less product? Or is pelleting more for a seed sowing machine?

For me, putting those white, large, pelleted seeds into the 2 inch potting starter pot was somewhat easier, but not enough to warrant getting so few seeds.

[KarenO]

I have purchased pelleted seed of tiny flower seed such as petunias but never for large seed like tomato seed. It might be useful for commercial growers who use automated seeder equipment but for home growers it would have no particular benefit. Just one more layer of obstruction for the little germinating seed to get through
KarenO

[Cole_Robbie]

Yeah, lettuce too, as far as small seeds that are much easier to handle pelleted.

If you start seeds in rockwool cubes, it's a lot easier to get the pelleted seed to drop into the bottom of the cube.

But for a home gardener with just a few packets of seed, I don't see any advantage.

[frankbenjones]

I've purchased pelleted seed for carrots and lettuce. Much easier to deal with the tiny carrot seeds and alot less work thinning them out. They don't seem to last as long. The pelleted seeds seem to draw in moisture but I've had some for over a year and they still germinate.

[Tania]

I hate pelleted seeds. They lose germination so fast!

[clkeiper]

I have used pelleted seed. They really are intended for automated vacuum seeders, but it does make it much easier to pick them up and seed for someone with poor vision/dexterity. Did anyone try to find lobelia seeds this year? I looked high and low for a cheap packet to no avail. I finally called my commercial seed salesman and he said they were not available as raw seed this year. I was a little put out, but after I got them ( I direct seed as many varieties of flowers as I can into the flats instead of germinating and transplanting) I actually liked them. I don't think that for tomato seeds there is any advantage other than for the vacuum seeder machines.

[beeman]

There is one major disadvantage with pelleted seed which no one talks about, seems they have a limited shelf life.
I bought parsnips for two years and failed to get any quantity to germinate. When I complained to the seller was told I bought them too early. Seems I should have bought them early in the year I wanted to plant them, not in the previous fall.
If you can get good pelleted seed, then they save hours of thinning.

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by beeman

There is one major disadvantage with pelleted seed which no one talks about, seems they have a limited shelf life.
I bought parsnips for two years and failed to get any quantity to germinate. When I complained to the seller was told I bought them too early. Seems I should have bought them early in the year I wanted to plant them, not in the previous fall.
If you can get good pelleted seed, then they save hours of thinning.

I think Parsnips have a limited shelf life. they need to be bought and planted fresh each year. I haven't notived that the pelleted seeds I save from one year to the next germinates more poorly than they should. Sometimes it is the way we store the seeds, too. Cool and dry goes a long way. Some even do fine in the freezer from one year to the next. My wave petunia seeds had a label on them to store them at 45f. until needed.